Electric furnace and electrode crane



A. E. GREENE ELECTRIC FURNACE AND ELECTRODE CRANE Oct. 16, 1928.

Original Filednov lm 1920- s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct.,16,-l92'8.' I 3 A. E4 GREENE I ELEQTR I FIURNIIACE AND ELECTRODE: AN

Oniginzii Filed Nov. 20- 5 mas-s m ,2

ATTORNEY Oct. 16,- 1928. Y

A. E. GREENE v v ELECTRIC FURNACE AND ELECTRODE CRANE Original Filed Nov. 20. 1920 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Patented Oct.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT n. GREENE, or MED-INA, WASHINGTON.

ELECTRIC FURNACE AND ELECTRODE CRANE.

Application filed November 20, 1920, Serial No. 425 170 Renewed May 12, 1923.

of furnace and roof, and also to -materially simplify charging and discharging of the furnace contents.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient electrode crane mechanism. adapted for use in furnaces already built as for example it may be desired to utilize the shell of a rotating brass furnace to make an electrode furnace in accordance with my invention.

Another object of my invention is to provide means of raising the electrodes out of the furnace chamber and then'moving the roof from over the furnace chamber so that charge may be put in; and another object of my invention is to provide a new and very simple and efficient type of roof movable around the center of rotation of the supporting mechanism or furnace shell.

Another feature of my invention relates to the method of raising or lowering arch shaped roofs and other roofs by means of an electrode crane built in accordance with my present invention.

Still another feature relates to means of supporting the roof frame on a circular shell and of causing the frame to move or slide or .roll around the shell.

for pouring, this mechanism may be used to regulate the position of the electrodes and furnace roof.

Another feature of my invent-ion relates to means of attaching the furnace roof to the electrode holder trolleys for purpose of rais ing the roof.

Another feature of my invention consists in means of maintaining the electrode crane in a vertical position while tilting a furnace Which can be revolved or rolled over on atrack. I

Another feature of my invention relates to the means of rolling the roof around the furnace for purposes of charging the furnace chamber Without entirely removing the electrode but with a special construction of furnace chamber.

Another feature of my invention relates to the constructionof electrode frame cranes for supporting a number of electrodes, particularly three electrodes, and in certain instances the relative arrangement and location of electrode holder trolley members.

Another feature. relates to the means of carrying or conveying the electrode cranes and in certain cases of conveying the furnace and all either on an overhead track or on a rail track on the floor level.

Another feature relates to carrying the electric power to the movable electrode crane, and in certain cases to attaching the furnace transformer or auto transformer on the crane member and transmitting the power at standard voltages higher than used on the furnace.

One feature relates to the means of passing the current thru movable contacts to permit motion of the furnace either around a swivel crane hook or along a horizontal path.

Still another feature of my invention consists in bringing the current to the furnace at standard transmission voltage, for example 440 volts and attaching the furnace transformer to the furnace and there supplying the desired voltage to the electrodes.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a cylin drical furnace provided with revolving roof on rollers, and showing the furnace in section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the furnace of Fig. 1- showing theelectrode crane and means of lifting roof. Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of a cylindrical furnace on'ro'llersor a track and fitted with a roof covering a shaft, and showing means of moving the roof frame by a gear and rack mechanism. I

Fig. 4 shows a section has been converted into an electric furnace in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top of the fur.-

nace of'Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows an end'view of a cylindrical furnace provided with trunnions and an electrode crane attached to and movable around the tr'unnions and showing the roof as moved around the circumference of the'cylinder to leave the charging opening open.

Fig. 7 shows an end view of the same furnace, likewise partly in section, and-showing the furnace hanging on the electrode craneand rotated by means of the gear into the final pouring position.

type transformer mounted thereon and a movabletrolley operating on-said beam and carrying .contact rings and adapted for sup plying current to a three phase electrode cir- 'cuit beneath. as for example the electrode crane of Fig. 8. v

Fig. ll'shows a plan view partly in section of the apparatus ofFig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a view in section and eleva-.

tion of a cylindrical furnace with roof which can be raised.

Fi 13-shows afront viewof the furnace of Fig. 12 and shows the electrode crane apparatus attached to the trunnions of the fur nace and also supporting membersn'esting on a car or truck beneath on which the, furnace may be-operated.

Fig. 1 1' is a view in elevation of a movable electrode crane, having a vertical member for carrying the electrode holder arm. and movable horizontally ,on a trick? These and otherapplicati'ons of'tli'e invention will now be described. 1

' I have shown in the several figures various views and embodiments of the movable roof features of my invention and will now refer of. converter which to these particular features in greater detail. In Fig. 1 I have shown a cylindrical furnace with a chamber inside in refractory lining andthis chamber 2(i-betwcenthe side lines 27 and 28 increases in dimensions toward the top. The shell 1- contains the lining and makes the chamber 2 and the roof is held in aframe between end pieces 19 and side pieces 22 the latter curved to correspond to the radius of the furnace shell. The frame is filled with brick forming an arch or is rammed full of refractory material. In this figure the roof frame isshown supported on rollers 20 and 21 which-enable it to roll around the circumference of the furnace shell. In Fig. .2 the roof frame 1s shown connected with cables 24: and .25 which can be .wound up on the drum 8 at the end of the furnace to raise the roof to facilitate its movement around the shell. The roof frame may be connected to the upright crane members 5 by latch members 5 whereby the roof frame is caused to move with the electrode crane members 5 as the latter move around on the trunnions. 14 and 18 as centers. Movement of the frame around the trunnions may be controlled by a worm gear not shown in this figure but similar to the gear shown in Fig. 7. The roof frame of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 operates to move around the circular shell in the same manner as already described.

The furnace of Fig. 7 may be charged-by rotating the roof back until the chamber is sufliciently open; this may be done by fixing the shell ,by means of suitable blocks 73 so that it cannot move when resting on the'supporting track member 72 and then revolving the electrode crane back which.- takes the roof with it as shownin Fig. 6. The chamber 86 of. the furnace may be charged when the roofis back as shown in Fig. 6. If desired the furnace may then be rolled forward until it assumes somewhat similar position to that", shown in Fig. 7 and it may then be charged from a lower level.

The'furnace as shown in Fig. 7 may be rotated into that position while held on an overhead carrier and this motion of the furnace may. be" caused by movement of the worm gear 76 by the hand wheel 78. When the furnace is held by means. of the hook 82 or other similar means and the shell does not rest on a supporting rail as in Fig. 6. then the shell of the furnace in Fig. 7 may be revolved while the roof remains in the same position relative to the electrode crane asshown in Fig. 7.

lVhen the and it is desired to turn the furnace over on the trunnions it may be desirable to raise the roof slightly from contact with the part of the furnace on which it normally rests and this may be accomplished as shown in Figs. 12 and l3, for example the electrode holder trolleys 52' and 53- may be used'to lift the furnace is supported as in Fig. 7

roof frame by means of hooks 44 and 47 which engage links or hooks attached to the roof frame?) and then by winding up the cables whichconnect with the electrode hold? ers on drums 41 and 42 the roofframe-may be lifted and take some position as shown at 7inFig.12'. I,

The difference between Figs. 13 and-2 is.

' that a single top electrode is shown in Fig. 2-

- shell so as toround the top in such manner moving the heating unit without disconnectthat a circular roof may be attached to a trunnion crane and when the'electrode is lifted out of the chamber, the-roof may'berevolved around the trunnion'sso as to recharge the vessel; but my. roof crane mounted on the trunnions is applicable tolifting the roof up by the same or similar means to the means shown in'Fig. 13 and 'untilit may be moved out of the way for charging. Thus my in vention is not limited toround roofsjaltho' round roofs present extremely simple and, efficient construction. '1 j I may -moun.t the electrode crane on an overhead carrier as shown in Fig. 12 and at- 'tach the roof frame to this carrier or to the electrode crane as shown in Fig. 13 without using the trunnions. e

In supplyingcurrent to the furnace electrodes I have developed certain useful improvements relative to the combinationof a movable crane or trolley which holds .the furnace, or in certain cases a truck on wheels supporting the furnace, with a conductor system along the line of the carrier. in this construction is to provide means of ing the electrical contact with the conductor system the broad details of which have been disclosed in my cope'nding application Serial Number 422,618. filed Nov. 8, 1920.

The further object of this constructionis to attach the furnace to the electrode crane andmove it from one position to another while keeping the current on or at least with the connections between the furnace electrodes and the conductor system along the path of the carrier still in contact. Thus with the furnace of Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 I may run the furnace out to any suitable location where. it may be charged with the material to be. treated, I may then run it infie some suitable I location for carrying out. the main heating process and then, with current'still on the electrodes or with contact between them and the supply lines still holding, I may run the My Object.

circuit thru the electrodes} In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown what I call contactor rings.

These consist of -three circular conductors shown'in section at. 121, 122, and 123 each 1 arm such as'139 and an arm 144 extending down from the trolley 134 and also extending ring being independently supportedby an up to the transformer shownat 131 above,

the latter serving to supply the lowvoltage currentJto these rings for further .use thru the electrodes. Beneath the trolley -proper is a shaft 137 on which is a sleeve 138 which in turn has arms 139, 140 and 141 extending out and holding contact shoes as shown at 148 from which lead theflexible conductors to the furnace electrodes beneath. The flexible conductor from the shoe '148 is shown at 145. The arm 139 is provided withan insulating joint 142 which may be a flange coupling with asbestos or ebony wood separating the two flanges and-with suitable insulated bolts h'olding'the flanges together. The other arms 140 and 141 may also be properly insulatedin the samemannerh When the. furnace turns on the swivel. 'ho'ok holding the electrode fr'ame,-such as the hook shown in Fig. 7,the arms like cause the shoes to swing around the contactor rings but at all times keeping contact with the supply system.

The transformer 131 is mounted on the trolley 134jby means not shown. This .transformer is represented as a three phase trans former having three separate windings 128, '127, and 129 on separate legs for the separate phases. The three lines 130 represent the leads to the supplv wires running along the path ofthe beam 133 and not shown. The construct-ion for. carrying these wires would be similar to the end view of the heavy trolley bus bars shown inFig. 12 each conductor being separately mounted and insulated and then shoes mounted from the moving trolley adapted-to makecontact with the trolley the secondary or heavy current conductorsv are shown at 124, 125' and 126 leading to the separate contactor rings from whence the cur-v rent goes to each respective electrode.

In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 I have shown a modi-' cation of electrode crane carrying three electrodes for three phase current supply. This electrode crane ma'y be used to drop three electrodes into aichamber such as shown at 90 in Fig. 9 which chamber may be a furnace or aladle or any container to be heated with or without charge therein. a

In Fig.8 the hook 100 is shown above for mounting on any suitable crane or support. This hook-100 holds a member 99 which in turn carries upright members shown'at93 and same number.- For example the I beam 93- is shown carrying the trolley 103 and operatin'g-u and down theI beam on wheels which may e seen engaging the: inner surfacesof the trolley. 1 With fnrtherreferenceto Figs. 6 and 7 I 'will enumerate the numbered partsfor possible reference; Thesh'ell in F ig. 6 is supported on a track 72 which maybe a railroad rail. Another such rail would be under the other end of the furnaceandit migho roll over' on these rails as described ininy U. S. Patent.1,279,1 49. .Blocksl'b may be shoved against the shell on the trackto keep it from rolling over. The shell is shown at 71f. It

maybe provided with the usual constructionof ends for. example a dished boiler head and -withtrunni'ons' as sho'wn.at.74. The lining is shown partly. in section at 87 a'nd 88. The

3 heating chamber. 86 is shown as widenin g toward the top but if desired this widening may only be for the electrode to move around on the trunnions as centers. On the trunnion 7 4 is shown a worm gearhousing 7 5 and worm housing 76 and handwheel shaft 77 with hand wheel 78 and handle 7:). The dotted. line 85 represents the bott om of the furnace cham- 'ber 86. The upright 79 is shown cut off in Fig. 6 but in Fig. 7 it'connects .withthe worm gear housin'g sons to turn around the'trun- .nion when the worml'ge'ar is operated. A hnkv 8l is shown for taking the crane hook 82 g -which may be on a swivel 83.

80 is a third beam for use of third electrode as shown in Figf13. The-same numbers in Figs. 6and'7 represent the same correspond:

' 'ing parts. g In Figs. land tr'ode furnace and the same numbers here also represent the same corresponding parts. Al-

tho a bottom electrode is not shown 'in the section of Fig. 1 this is because the bottom may be of carbon in which case-the terminal is the shell. The shell 1 in these figures is 7 carried 011" the electrode crane on the'ends of f the members 5 and 6which inturn are held by'a cross arm above 6. On one upright61 is shown a trolley el'ectrode'holdcr 7 holding an electrode 3by clamp 4. The arm of the trolley has a cablc eattached for lifting or -lowe ring' it by winding the cable over the sheaves onto the drum 8 whichdrum is 01)- erated by a worm gearshown 'at 9 and 10 and" hand wheelll. The roof-is shown in a frame 22 consisting of curved members and end The beam 2 is shown a single topelecpieces 19.: Hooks 23 are shown with cables 24 and 25which may also be wound up on the drum 8 to lift the roof. Roller wheels 20 and 21 are shown for'letting the roof'roll around the cylindrical surface of the top of the shell or other track member corresponding thereto. The roof frame may roll around the shell on these rollers being pulled along with the members 5 and 6 by the latch members 5. This construction ofroof and electrode crane may be used with'a trolley like 7 on both upright me1 nbers.- The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the outline-of the chamber opening inside the re-.' frac'tory lining; The dimension of the chamber in the direction of the of the-cylinder Varies; it is only wide enough forthe electrbde in front along the linei28 of Fig. 1 and the same Width in back along the line 27 the dotted line'28 representing the slanting walls half way between .front and back; The dished heads are shown at 15 and 16, and the trunnions at 13 and 17.

Fig. 3 shows a section of a'cylindrical shell- 31 upright on rollers 32 and 33 or on a track -42. bottom electrode of carbon or other conducting material is shown at 34. The chamber or crucible '35 is at the base of the shaft45 An electrode 36 is shown thru the roof 37 in the shaft 45. Rollers 43 and/14' areshown for movement of the roof around the shell 31. A'bracket 38fIS shown in sectionblines back of the roof frame and a inember'39 on shaft or pin 41 is intended to represent a gear to mesh with a rack on the roof frame 37 for the purpose, by means of the lever 40. of moving the roof around the shell",

teeth of the gear meshing with teeth 'offthe rack; altho the teeth are not shown.

' Fig; 14 shows a standard 64 su ported on a track 61 which may be one side 0 the upright frame of an electrode crane. The trunnion of a rolling cylinder furnace may extend thru the hole 63. Legs are shown terminating in wheels 62 which-roll along the track. Movement ,of this member along the track is represented in the direction of the arrow 65fand the dotted outline shows a possible position,

such as might botalien wheii the crane'rolls along the. track while attached to the trim nion of a rollingcylinder furnace all the while' maintaining an upright position.

Fig.4 and Fig. 5 have already been described as a modified converter. Instead of dropping a singleclectrodeas 55 in Fig. 4 into the chamber 'of the converter, an electrode. crane such as shown 1n Flgs. 8 and 9 may be dropped or lowered into the furnace chamber and arcs drawn to the charge, -,or with proper voltage control theheat-may all or largely be generated in the charge itself- In Fig. 13 truck i'sfshown'on' wheels at each end of a car supporting the furnace. Standards 20 areshown" These'may su port the bases of. the upright members 53 and 54 .sothat the coImecti'on-to the'overheadficzir- ,numberof electrodes, nor to the specific construction of carriers or crane members.

What I claim is-:

1. In combination a movable electric heating furnace, a carrier therefor, electric conductors along the line of, said carrier, movable electric current contacting members at tached to said furnace said contact members maintaining electrical connection between the furnace members and the source of supply of current.

2. In combination, an electric furnace, a

separately mounted vertical mast movable horizontally with respect to the furnace, a trolley member engaging sald mast and movable along the latter, an arm attached tosaid trolley and an electrode clamp on said arm,

and means for raising and lowering said arm to adjust the electrode height.

' An electric furnace comprising a cylindrical shell of approximately horizontal a'xisi said shell having an open top, a refractory;

lining forming a heating chamber, a roof frame holding a refractory roof covering said chamber, and an.electrode crane-carried by said furnace having means ofregulating the elevation of the electrodes and means of moving said roof frame from over the top.

opening of said furnace chamber. x

4. A cylindrical electric furnace having a metalshell, a refractorylining, a top openi ing in said shell covered by a refractory roof held in a frame, an electrode hole thru said roof, and, an electrode holder apparatus mounted on said furnace and adapted to move around the circumference of .the furnace whereby said electrode maybe lifted above the level of thefurnace and then roof and electrode moved out of the way so that access may be had into the chamber of said furnace to charge or discharge material,

5. A cylindrical-furnace comprising a cylindrical shell,'metal ends, trunnions on said ends, an electrode holder mounted on saidtr-unnions, a lining in said shell, an opening into the inner chamber formed by said lining,

means of lowering an electrode into said opening'on sa d electrode holder, and means 6. An electrode crane comprising vertical members. for guiding ele'ctrodeholder trolleys, a'fra'me holdingsaid vertical members in relation-to each: other, means of raising or' i lowering the electrode h'olders on said up right members, each electrode holderh'aving: independentmeans of regulation, and fmeans junction with said furnace.

of carrying said crane on a suitable overhead carrler.

7. An electric furnace in combination with a carrier to support said" furnace, means of moving said furnace from place to place on a track, conductors along said track and means of leading currentfrom' said conduce tors to the electrodes of said furnace without disconnecting the circuit when the furnace is moved. i

8. In combination, an electric melting furnace comprising a-cylin'drical shell with its axis substantially horizontal and means for tilting the shell about saida zis'or an axis parallel thereto,anopeningthru thetop of .said shellinto a furnace chamber within for electrodes to .enter said chamber, and a removable roof covering an opening-into said chamber for charging material therein.

9. An electric furnace in combination, saidfurnace having a she'll of general cylindrical shape mounted-to. tilt about its axis and with said axis substantially horizontal, an opening in-the upper part of shell thru the refractory lining within, a rriiq vable roof for closing said opening, a plurality of electrode holes thru the refractory, material for electrodes toenter the chamber, means for removing saidelectrodes and for charging the furnace thru the roof hole.

' 10. The combination-comprising an elec tric furnace, means to support said furnace,

means to move said furnace, a roof for said 1 furnace,electrodes passing through said roof,

travelling'contact meansto supply electric current to said electrodes, meansto independent-1y withdraw and adjust any of said electrodes, means to move said roof and electrodes away from the opening of saidfur 'nace, and means to tilt'said furnace.

11.- An electric furnace apparatus," comprising a truck adapted to run, along a track and to carry said furnace,the latter compris ing a chamber for holding molten metal and a pouring spout and means for tilting said furnace to'pour the metal, and a current collecting trolley on saidtr'uck.

12. In combinatiomanelectrric heating apparat'us comprising a" truck, a conductor mount-ed along the path of said truck, a con tactihg member for taking current from said condrictor-toparts on said truck, and electric heating means on said truck comprising an electric transformerand a furnace chamber for generatingheat by current from said of raising said electrode ,and moving it. I around on the trunnionsi-out of the way for: chargingintojsa'idopening. 1 r a l transformer. -V r 13. In combination, electric heating apparier runningthereon, a furnace supported ratus. comprising an. overhead track, a care and using it inelectriclheating means in con} 14. An electric furnace apparatus compris 'ing in combination, a furnace with refracrier for said furnace, transformer means mounted on said. carrier for supplying heat 5 Within said furnace, means for supplying current to said transformer from conduct-01's along the path of movement of then-carrier,

and means for tilting the furnace and maintaining connection by flexible leads between the heating means and the supply of current.v

In 'witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this l8th'd z1y of November, A. D.

ALEERT E. GREENE. 

